THE FRUIT OF VULNERABILITY: RADIANCE
“Those who look to Him are radiant, their faces are never covered with shame.”
Psalm 34:5
We serve a faithful God. He is a God who redeems us. He is a God who delights in us.
In January [before launching on the World Race], I went to dinner with my cousins, Jenni and Mandi. Dinners such as this one are few and far between, so this was extra special since I would be leaving the country for 11 months. We talked about family [a must], what we did for New Year’s, and all the exciting things I would be experiencing this year abroad.
Between the pizza, pasta, and chianti, I felt the Lord telling me that it was finally time to share my story with them. I wanted them to know the real me. I was tired of hiding in shame for so long.
When we shed light on darkness, it takes away its [power].
Although I was incredibly nervous, they were gracious and loving. We cried together. We laughed together. We cried together some more. We laughed together some more. It was a reaction I could have never prepared for. It was how God intended [grace] to be.
As we were finishing up, I shared with them what my friend Rachel said to me after training camp in October. “Erin, you are glowing. There’s something different about you.” My cousin Jenni then shared with me Psalm 34:5, “Those who look to Him are radiant, their faces are never covered in shame.” That ladies and gentlemen is the Fruit of Vulnerability: Radiance .
God gave my cousin Jenni that verse because He knew it was exactly what I needed to hear. In the two months since, He has reconfirmed that scripture three other times through three different
people.
He wanted to teach me something through my friend Rachel, my cousin Jenni, my squad leader Kent, my squadmate Emily, and my squad mentor Beka. If that doesn’t prove He is a faithful God, I’m not sure what does.
That scripture gave me the [strength] to share my story with my squad of 35 people, 3 squad leaders, 2 squad coaches and my squad mentor. That scripture has allowed me to walk in more [freedom] than I ever thought possible.
All because I was [finally] willing to shed light on something I had been hiding in the darkness for far too long. Be vulnerable friends, you never know what freedom will come from it.
